Quality Check Workflow: Consistent Alignment, Spacing, and Export Readiness

What a Quality Check Workflow Does (and Why It’s Different from “Designing”)

A quality check workflow is a repeatable set of verification steps you run before a design leaves your hands—whether it’s going to a client, a printer, a developer, or a social media scheduler. It is not about inventing new layout ideas or reworking the concept. It is about catching small inconsistencies that reduce trust: a button that’s 2 px off, uneven padding between cards, a headline that shifts baseline from one screen to the next, or an export that looks crisp on your machine but blurry on someone else’s.

Quality checking is most effective when it is systematic. If you rely on “eyeballing,” you’ll miss issues because your brain adapts to what it expects to see. A workflow forces you to inspect alignment, spacing, and export readiness in a consistent order, with measurable criteria. It also helps you communicate: when someone asks “Is this ready?”, you can answer based on a checklist rather than a feeling.

Set Up a QC Pass: Timing, Scope, and Tools

When to run QC

• Micro-QC during production: quick checks after finishing a section (e.g., one screen, one poster panel, one slide).
• Full QC before handoff: a complete pass across the entire deliverable set (all pages, all breakpoints, all variants).
• Post-export QC: verify the exported files, not just the source document.

Define the scope

Write down what “done” means for this project. Examples: “6 social tiles in 1:1 and 4:5, plus story 9:16,” or “Landing page desktop + mobile, plus 10 UI components.” QC is easier when you know exactly which files and states must be consistent.

Helpful tools and features (generic)

• Rulers, guides, and measurement readouts for verifying distances.
• Alignment/distribution commands to enforce exact positioning.
• Outline/wireframe view to see bounding boxes and hidden misalignments.
• Pixel preview / zoom to inspect edges and crispness.
• Layer list to find stray objects, duplicates, and naming issues.
• Export preview to confirm formats, sizes, and scaling.

QC Pass 1: Consistent Alignment (A Practical Inspection Order)

Alignment problems often hide in plain sight because they’re small. The goal of this pass is to confirm that objects that should align do align—across the entire set of deliverables.

Step 1: Choose a reference frame

Pick the primary alignment anchors for the project. Examples: the left edge of the content column, the centerline of a poster, or the safe area margins for social formats. During QC, you will repeatedly compare elements to these anchors.

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Step 2: Check outer margins and safe areas first

Start from the outside and move inward. Verify that the main content sits consistently within the intended margins. For multi-format sets (e.g., square and portrait social posts), confirm that the same “visual margin” is maintained even if the pixel margins differ.

• Print example: If a brochure has a 12 mm margin, confirm that text frames and key graphics respect it on every panel.
• Digital example: If a UI screen uses 24 px side padding, ensure every screen uses 24 px for the main content container, not 22 px on one screen and 26 px on another.

Step 3: Verify column alignment and edge consistency

Scan for repeated structures: cards, list items, captions, form fields, and image blocks. Confirm that their left and right edges line up consistently. A common issue is that one card’s internal padding differs, making text appear to “float” compared to neighboring cards.

Practical method: select two items that should align and compare their X (horizontal) position and width values. If your tool shows coordinates, use them. If not, use guides or temporary rectangles to measure.

Step 4: Check center alignment only where it’s intentional

Centered alignment is easy to apply inconsistently. Inspect headings, icons, and grouped elements: are they truly centered to the container or only visually centered because of uneven shapes? For example, a circular icon centers easily; a logo mark with asymmetrical negative space might need optical adjustment. Your QC job is to ensure the choice is consistent: either mathematically centered everywhere, or optically adjusted everywhere based on a documented rule.

Step 5: Baseline and text-block alignment across components

Even when text styles are correct, text blocks can drift vertically because of different frame heights, padding, or line-height rounding. Compare repeated components side-by-side: do headings start at the same Y position? Do captions align across a row of images? Misalignment here makes a layout feel “wobbly.”

• Check that text frames are not accidentally taller than needed, causing inconsistent vertical centering.
• Confirm that multi-line text blocks align by top edge (common in lists) or by baseline (common in tables), depending on the design system.

Step 6: Look for “almost aligned” objects

These are the classic QC catches: an icon nudged 1 px, a divider line that doesn’t reach the same endpoint, a button that is 2 px taller than its siblings. Use an outline view or select objects and compare their position/size values. If you find one, assume there are more—then inspect the entire set of similar elements.

QC Pass 2: Consistent Spacing (Measure, Don’t Guess)

Spacing consistency is about repeated distances: padding inside components, gaps between items, and vertical rhythm between sections. Your goal is not to redesign spacing; it’s to ensure the spacing rules you intended are applied everywhere.

Step 1: Identify the spacing tokens used in the project

Before measuring, list the spacing increments you see (for example: 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 32). During QC, anything that falls outside these increments is a candidate for correction—unless there’s a clear reason.

Practical method: pick a representative screen or page and measure a few key gaps (between heading and body, between cards, inside buttons). Write the values down as your project’s “spacing set.”

Step 2: Check internal padding first (component integrity)

Inconsistent padding is one of the fastest ways to make a design look unprofessional. Inspect components like cards, banners, modals, buttons, and callouts.

• Buttons: confirm left/right padding matches across sizes; confirm icon-to-text spacing is consistent.
• Cards: confirm padding around text and images is consistent; confirm corner radii and stroke widths match (these affect perceived spacing).
• Forms: confirm label-to-field spacing and field-to-helper-text spacing are consistent.

Step 3: Check gaps between siblings (lists, grids, rows)

Move to repeated groups: a row of cards, a list of features, a set of thumbnails. Measure the gap between each pair. If one gap differs, it will create a visual “hiccup.”

Practical method: draw a temporary rectangle that spans the gap, or use a measurement tool to read the distance. Fix by distributing spacing evenly rather than nudging manually.

Step 4: Check section spacing (macro rhythm)

Now inspect the larger vertical distances: between hero and next section, between section heading and content, between content blocks. Inconsistent section spacing makes a layout feel either cramped or oddly sparse in places.

• Common issue: One section has extra top padding because a background shape extends beyond the content.
• Common issue: A section heading is closer to the previous section than to its own content, breaking grouping.

Step 5: Watch for hidden spacing distortions

Some spacing problems are caused by invisible factors:

• Text bounding boxes: Some fonts include extra ascender/descender space that affects perceived padding. If you align by frame edges, the optical spacing may vary. Decide whether to adjust frames or use consistent baseline rules.
• Strokes and shadows: A 2 px stroke increases the visual size of an object; a shadow can make an element feel closer to neighbors. During QC, confirm that spacing is measured from the correct edge (content edge vs. outer effect edge) and applied consistently.
• Clipped images: Different crop positions can make images feel misaligned even when frames are aligned. QC includes checking that crops are consistent in intent (e.g., faces at similar height across a team grid).

QC Pass 3: Cross-File and Cross-Format Consistency

Many projects include multiple pages, artboards, or variants. QC must ensure that repeated elements behave the same everywhere.

Step 1: Create a “reference” page or artboard

Select the most complete, correct version as your reference. When checking other files, compare against this reference for alignment anchors, spacing tokens, and component structure.

Step 2: Compare repeated modules

Examples of modules: headers, footers, navigation bars, product cards, testimonial blocks, pricing tables, or social post templates. Confirm:

• Same padding and alignment inside the module.
• Same placement relative to the page margins/safe area.
• Same icon sizes and consistent offsets.

Step 3: Check variant states and edge cases

If your design includes variants (hover/pressed states, long vs. short text, different image aspect ratios), QC must include them. A layout may look perfect with short labels but break with longer ones.

• Test the longest plausible headline or button label and confirm it doesn’t break alignment or spacing rules.
• Check that multi-line text doesn’t create uneven component heights in a grid unless that behavior is intentional.

Export Readiness: A Pre-Flight Checklist for Digital and Print

Export readiness means the design can be reliably turned into final files without surprises: no missing assets, no unintended scaling, no color mode mistakes, and no blurry output. This is where many “looks fine in the editor” projects fail.

Step 1: Confirm document setup matches the destination

• Dimensions: Verify artboard/page sizes match the required output (e.g., 1080×1350, A4, 1920×1080). Double-check orientation.
• Bleed and safe area (print and some signage): Ensure bleed is set and background elements extend into it. Ensure critical content stays inside the safe area.
• Resolution (raster assets): Confirm images are high enough resolution for the output size. A common QC step is to check effective resolution after scaling.

Step 2: Clean up layers and assets

Export problems often come from messy files. Before exporting:

• Remove or hide unused elements and stray shapes outside the canvas that might export accidentally.
• Check for duplicated layers (e.g., two identical icons stacked) that can cause unexpected darkening or blur.
• Ensure linked images are not missing and are embedded/packaged as needed for handoff.

Step 3: Verify vector vs. raster decisions

Logos, icons, and type should typically remain vector for crisp output, especially for print and high-resolution screens. QC includes checking that you didn’t accidentally rasterize a vector element during effects or export settings.

• If exporting to SVG/PDF, confirm strokes, corners, and effects render correctly.
• If exporting to PNG/JPG, confirm the scale factor is appropriate (e.g., 2× for high-density screens) and that text remains sharp.

Step 4: Check color handling and consistency

Without re-teaching color theory, QC focuses on technical correctness:

• Print: Confirm the correct color mode/profile required by the printer, and verify rich black vs. pure black usage where relevant. Ensure overprint settings are intentional.
• Digital: Confirm exports are in the expected color space and that gradients/banding are acceptable. Watch for unexpected shifts when converting formats.

Step 5: Typography and text integrity checks

• Confirm fonts are available/embedded as required for print PDFs or packaged for handoff.
• Check for text reflow: sometimes text shifts due to missing fonts or different rendering engines.
• Inspect for accidental faux styles (fake bold/italic) that can export poorly.

Step 6: Run an “export preview” and inspect at 100%

Always inspect exported files at actual size (100% zoom) and, if relevant, at typical viewing sizes (e.g., phone screen). Look for:

• Blurry text or icons (often caused by fractional pixel positioning or incorrect scaling).
• Hairline gaps between shapes (common in PDFs/SVGs when shapes butt together).
• Unexpected cropping (objects extending beyond the export bounds).
• Compression artifacts (especially in JPGs with gradients or fine text).

Step 7: Name and organize exports for real-world use

Export readiness includes file naming and structure so others can use the files without opening your source document.

• Use consistent naming: project_component_size_version (e.g., campaign_tile_1080x1350_v03).
• Separate formats into folders (PNG, JPG, PDF, SVG) and include a “readme” in the handoff package if needed.
• For multi-page PDFs, verify page order and that spreads/single pages match the printer’s request.

A Repeatable QC Checklist You Can Reuse

Use this as a practical sequence. The order matters: start broad, then go detailed, then export.

1) Global scan (30–60 seconds per page/artboard)

• Anything obviously off-center, cramped, or drifting?
• Do repeated modules look like the same system?
• Are there any accidental overlaps or clipped content?

2) Alignment pass (measured)

• Outer margins/safe areas consistent.
• Left/right edges of repeated blocks align.
• Centers used intentionally and consistently.
• Text blocks align across rows/columns where expected.

3) Spacing pass (token-based)

• Component padding consistent (buttons, cards, forms).
• Gaps between siblings equal and distributed.
• Section spacing consistent across the layout set.
• Effects (strokes/shadows) not distorting spacing decisions.

4) Consistency across variants

• Same module behaves the same across pages and sizes.
• Long text and edge cases checked.
• Image crops consistent in intent.

5) Export pre-flight

• Correct sizes, bleed, and safe areas.
• Assets linked/embedded; no missing files.
• Vector/raster choices correct; no accidental rasterization.
• Color handling correct for destination.
• Fonts embedded/packaged; no reflow.

6) Post-export inspection

• Open exported files and inspect at 100%.
• Check crispness, cropping, and artifacts.
• Verify naming, folder structure, and page order.

Practical Mini-Scenarios: What to Check and How to Fix

Scenario A: A row of cards looks uneven, but measurements “seem fine”

What to check: Compare internal padding and text frame heights, not just card positions. One card may have a taller text box or different line-height rounding, causing the button to sit lower.

How to fix: Standardize the internal layout: set consistent padding values, align internal elements to the same top anchor, and ensure buttons share the same Y position across cards. If content length varies, decide whether cards should be equal height (with controlled truncation) or variable height (with consistent internal spacing).

Scenario B: Icons look misaligned even though they’re centered

What to check: Some icons have different visual weight or asymmetrical shapes. Mathematical centering can look off.

How to fix: Apply a consistent optical adjustment rule: for example, nudge specific icons by 1–2 px to match perceived center, and document that adjustment so it’s applied consistently across formats.

Scenario C: Exported PNG text looks slightly blurry

What to check: Fractional pixel positioning (e.g., X=20.5 px), non-integer scaling, or exporting at 1× when the platform expects higher density.

How to fix: Align key text and thin lines to whole pixels where appropriate, export at the correct scale factor (often 2× for UI assets), and re-check at 100% in the exported file.

Scenario D: A print PDF has unexpected thin white lines between background shapes

What to check: These can be rendering seams in PDF viewers when shapes touch exactly.

How to fix: Slightly overlap adjacent shapes (by a small amount) or unify them into a single shape where possible. Always verify by printing a test or using a professional preflight tool if available.

Building the Habit: Make QC Fast, Not Painful

The best QC workflow is one you will actually run. Keep it short, consistent, and measurable. If you find the same type of mistake repeatedly (like inconsistent button padding), treat it as a process issue: create a reusable component, define a spacing token, or add a checkpoint earlier in your workflow. Over time, QC becomes less about fixing and more about confirming that your system is working.

QC QUICK PASS (copy/paste into your project notes) 1) Margins/safe area: consistent? 2) Alignment: edges and centers verified with measurements? 3) Spacing: padding and gaps match the spacing set? 4) Variants: long text, different images, states checked? 5) Export: sizes/bleed, assets, fonts, color mode correct? 6) Post-export: inspect at 100%, check naming and order?